________________
202
No. 4. Sthavira Arya Sayyambhavasuri.
At the time of his 1271 Diksā, Initiation, Sayyambhavabhatta was twenty-eight years old. Observing penance of various kinds, he was not at all afraid of endurances, and thinking it to be the most effective method of destroying Karmas, he became more energetic in the practice of his religious duties. Shining brightly like the Sun, Sayyambhava Muni commenced fasting of one day, two days, three days, four days and more days at a time.
Serving faithfully the lotus-like feet of his Guru, the talented Sayyambhava Muni acquired a complete knowledge of the fourteen Pūrvas, through his grace. Knowing him to be thoroughly well-versed in Scriptural Knowledge, Prabhava Swami appointed Sayyambhava Muni as a pontif in his stead and he himself remained in deep meditation.
When Sayyambhava-bhatta was initiated, his wife was young and pregnant. On seeing her quite young, people lamentingly said “O! There can be no person more cruel-hearted than Sayyambhava-bhatta. He has foresaken his young and virtuous wife. Females pass their days comfortably without their husbands, only by a shelter from a son. But she has no son. What will happen with the wretched self of hers? When people compassionately asked her, "O good woman! Is there any possibility of a foetus in your womb ? she replied “HUUTA Maņayam, Somewbat” in Prākrit. The foetus was then of a few weeks' duration. But gradually the foetus developed more and more and at the mature age, she gave birth to a son with a moon-like face capable of giving delight to her bewildered mind. From the reply #UTH Maņayam, given by the wife of Sayyambhava-bhatta, the child was named HUT Maņaka. The child nourished by the wife of Sayyambhava-bhatta, herself the mother and herself the foster-mother, gradually began to walk about.
